COUNCILLORS who have been hand-delivering leaflets during the latest lockdown have been told to stop by police.

Green Party representatives in Winton have been handing out postcards providing contact details for local bodies as well as information about the May elections.

But they have been warned by Dorset Police assistant chief constable Sam de Reya that there was “no exemption” to allow this and that they “could be breaching legislation”.

Earlier this week, the council’s two Green Party councillors, Simon Bull and Chris Rigby, who represent Winton East, were hand delivering the postcards.

They said the work was “very low risk” and being done within the rules, despite the national lockdown and calls for people to stay at home as much as possible.

"We were deliberately out delivering because of the pandemic – not in spite of it – in order to assist people in coping during lockdown,” Cllr Rigby said.

“We are supporting our community through a difficult time, delivering essential information in a very low risk fashion in line with best practice and the law.

“While the Conservatives may wish to sit aside during such a challenging period for our community, we knew we had a responsibility to deliver important information to help people in need.”

But they have attracted criticism from Conservative councillors who said they were “putting their residents at risk” and pointed to a council campaign which will see postcards delivered to every house in the area.

Councillor Beverley Dunlop said it was “irresponsible, unnecessary and potentially spreading the disease”.

Her party colleague, councillor Judy Butt, said it was “unbelievably heartless and thoughtless” and that it was putting their political campaign above people’s lives.

And councillors have now been told by Dorset Police not to deliver leaflets.

“Can I please remind you and your team of the ‘Stay Home Save Lives’ message,” Ms de Reya said on Twitter. “There is no exemption for posting material to households and you could be breaching legislation."

Cllr Rigby said his group had now delivered all of their leaflets and they were “not planning on delivering any more”.